Panthers poor on offense again, fall to Titans
Posted November 23, 2023 6:07 p.m. EST
Updated November 27, 2023 12:04 p.m. EST
| Carolina Panthers | 10 |
| Tennessee Titans | 17 |
| Final | |
Different week, same result for the Carolina Panthers.
The defense played well enough to win Sunday in Nashville, but the offense did not as the Panthers fell 17-10 to the Tennessee Titans.
Carolina had a late fourth quarter drive to potentially tie the game, but it ended with a whimper. Bryce Young’s quick screen to DJ Chark on a 4th & 6 went for no gain, effectively ending the game with a turnover on downs.
"There's no excuse," said head coach Frank Reich. "We just need to coach better and play better and guys [need to] step up and do a good job."
It’s the fourth straight loss for Carolina, who has dropped to 1-10 for the third time in franchise history.
The previous two times they did so – in 2001 and 2010 – they went on to finish with the worst record in the NFL.
The lone bright spot in an otherwise ugly afternoon came early in the 3rd quarter.
Chuba Hubbard broke through for a 5-yard touchdown on 4th & 2, capping an 11 play, 67 yard scoring drive out of the locker room.
Young did make several encouraging plays, but his final stats were still pedestrian at best -- 18/31 for 194 yards and no scores.
Injuries didn't make things any easier. The Panthers saw several players knocked out of the game, including Laviska Shenault, Cade Mays and Chandler Zavala on offense, but players refused to shift any blame on that.
"Regardless of personnel things [or] whatever it is, it's a 'we' thing," said Bryce Young. "We all feel the same. You never feel good after this so there's nothing else to look at or blame it on."
Young also fumbled the ball on a second quarter strip sack by Arden Key, which wound up being the difference in the game.
Derrick Henry rumbled for a 10-yard touchdown just two plays later (his second score of the day), and gave the Titans a two-score lead that they never relinquished.
Henry and the Titans offense was held in check for most of the day.
In fact, excluding a season-long 15 play, 91 yard drive in the first quarter (which ended with a 1-yard Henry touchdown),
Tennessee’s longest drive of the day was just 31 yards as they tried to burn clock in the fourth.
"What are you going to do? You're 1-10," said Reich. "You going to start feeling sorry for yourself and think something's going to magically fix everything? No... I know these games are winnable. I know we have the players and coaches to do that so we regroup and get ready for this week."
Scoring summary
0:34 1st - Derrick Henry 1 Yd Rush. Nick Folk Made XP. 7-0 Titans.
8:51 2nd - Eddy Pineiro Made 50 Yd Field Goal. 7-3 Titans.
2:27 2nd - Derrick Henry 10 Yd Rush. Nick Folk Made XP. 14-3 Titans.
0:00 2nd - Nick Folk Made 53 Yd Field Goal. 17-3 Titans.
8:06 3rd - Chuba Hubbard 5 Yd Rush. Eddy Pineiro Made XP. 17-10 Titans.
